Locking electric-lamp socket



(No Model.)

W. L. TAYLOR.

BOOKING ELECTRIC LAMP SOCKET; No. 569,727. Patented Oct. 20, 1896.

UNITED STATES PATENT Orricn WILLIAM L. TAYLOR, OF EAST LIVERPOOL, OHIO.

LOCKING ELECTRIC-LAMP SOCKET.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 569,727, dated October 20, 1896.

Application filed February 21, 1896. Serial No. 580,210. (No model.)

To (055 1071 0727, it may concern- Be it known that I, WILLIAM L. TAYLOR, a citizen of the United States, residing at East Liverpool, inv the county of Oolumbiana and State of Ohio, have invented or discovered new and useful Improvements in Locking Electric-Lamp Sockets, of which the following is a specification.

In the accompanying drawings,which make part of this specification, Figure 1 is a side elevation of the socket, showing key applied and lamp-base broken off. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the shell with keyhole. Fig. 3 is a side elevation, broken away, of lamp-base, showing seat for spring-dog. Fig. & is a detail inside elevation of locking-spring and adjacent parts of lamp and socket broken away. Fig. 5 is a plan of key; and Fig. 6, a side elevation of socket with shell removed, showing locking-spring in engagement with lamp.

The purpose of my invention, generally stated, is to devise an automatic lock whereby an electric lamp can be secured in its socket against unauthorized removal.

It is well known in mills, shops, and other large establishments using a considerable number of incandescent lamps that the monthly loss due to repeated thefts of the lamps by workmen or others is quite heavy. I propose to prevent this pilferin g by locking the lamp in the socket by simple means, from which its withdrawal canonly be accomplished by a key in the possession of a foreman or other responsible person.

I have chosen to illustrate my invention in connection with the Bryant socket, lately manufactured by the \Vestinghouse Electric Company, but the principle of my invention is applicable to any of the commercial types of socket.

In the several views, which make part of this application, 2 is the lamp-base, which has the usual air-holes, one of which is seen at 2,

3 is the shell through which I make a keyhole 3, registering with keyhole 4 in spring i, which is here shown as secured to the porcelain base 5 of the socket, but may be attached at any other convenient point of the socket. The spring 4 has an inwardly-projecting spur P, adapted to pass between the spring-teeth of the lamp-receptacle G and enter the airhole 2 in the lamp-base.

7 is any suitable key which by preference has a pivoted spur '7 to enter a small hole drilled in the porcelain base 8 of the lamprecepta-ole 6. This assists in centering the key and preventing its slipping when turned, but this feature may be omitted.

The lamp is thrust into its socket in the usual way and turned until the click of the spring-spur entering its seat is heard or until a pull fails to release the lamp. Virtually this only takes an instant. The lamp now can only he removed by the use of a key.

If the relative positions of the keyhole in the shell and the hole in the lamp-base are noted, the lamp may be merely thrust into its socket and instantly locked without any rotation of the lamp.

It will be noted that the changes in the structure can be made at a trivial expense. I utilize one of the air-holes in every lampbase, although a special hole may be in the base for this purpose.

The shell is unchanged, except to cut a keyhole therein, and the only alteration in the socket is to attach a simple spring-dog with a keyhole stamped therein. Any simple form of key will be sufficient.

The details of my invention maybe indefinitely modified, but as I believe I am the first to accomplish the locking of an electric lamp in its socket, from which it can be removed only through the instrumentality of the key, I intend to claim the same broadly, as well as to cover my specific means' Many prior patents show devices for securing the lamp in its socket against accidental displacement merely, where the lamp maybe removed by hand without employing any auxiliary tool, and such constructions I do not intend to claim. My device differs from these in the fact that the lamp is strictly locked in place, requiring a key to release it before removal, and by the term locked in the following claims I mean so secured that a key is required to release the catch of the lock before withdrawal is possible.

I claim 1. The combination of an electric lamp; a socket therefor; means for automatically roo locking the lamp in its socket by inserting the lamp therein and a key by which alone the lamp can be released.

2. The combination of an electric lamp; a socket therefor; means for automatically locking the lamp in its socket by giving a partial turn to the lamp and a key by which alone the lamp can be released.

3. The combination of an electric lamp hav ing a depression in its base; a socket therefor having a locking-spring adapted to engage with said depression and a key by which alone the lamp can be released.

4. The combination of an electric lamp having' a depression in its base; a shell having a keyhole therein; a lamp-socket and a lockingspring attached to said lan1p-socket adapted WILLIAM L. TAYLOR. \Vitnesses:

J NO. N. TAYLOR, J. \V. IRWIN. 

